The Department provides services and programs aimed at ensuring prisoners’ emotional and physical wellbeing.
New prisoners are assessed prior to placement in prison to determine their security rating, work placement, program and education needs, and health requirements.
The Prison Counselling Service, prison support officers and suicide prevention strategies all aim to provide progressive, preventative measures to ensure a prisoner’s health and safety and identify and support those who may be at risk of self-harm or suicide.
Prison support officers provide a Peer Support Program in each public prison throughout the State. The program is well established as a suicide-prevention strategy aimed at early identification and support of prisoners at risk.
The Prison Counselling Service available to all offenders in WA prisons is a team of social workers and psychologists who work alongside health and program staff. They help prisoners deal with difficulties they might experience while in custody.
The Department also uses the At-Risk Management System which includes a raft of initiatives based on the Caring for the Suicidal in Custody (1994) strategy developed in the United Kingdom.
